Guoda Chen, Huafeng Yang, Huiqiang Cao, Shiming Ji, Xi Zeng and Qian Wang
For the climbing rod object with large diameter variation and the need of obstacle crossing, this paper aims to propose a new embracing-type climbing robot named as EVOC-I robot.
Abstract
Purpose
For the climbing rod object with large diameter variation and the need of obstacle crossing, this paper aims to propose a new embracing-type climbing robot named as EVOC-I robot.
Design/methodology/approach
The design philosophy and structural scheme are introduced. The kinematic analysis of embracing and telescoping mechanisms is carried out to provide the theoretical foundation for the effective climbing of the robot. Based on the prototype robot, three preliminary experiments are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the designed robot.
Findings
The theoretical and experimental analyses have verified the reasonability and effectiveness of the proposed robot design.
Research limitations/implications
As the preliminary study, the prototype still need a lot of improvement. The experimental verification is also limited. Future work will focus on improving the design and increasing the theoretical analysis, especially increasing experimental study and designing the next generation of the rod climbing robot.
Practical implications
The designed climbing robot can be used for climbing the rod with variation diameter and flange obstacle, especially the lightening rod in the transformer substation.
Originality/value
The paper designs a new climbing robot that integrates the ability of large variation diameter adaptation and obstacle crossing.
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Youmin Xi, Xuanwei Cao and Liuxu Xiangli
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the indigenous He‐Xie management theory (HXMT) through the lens of a holistic perspective from Chinese philosophical wisdom.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the indigenous He‐Xie management theory (HXMT) through the lens of a holistic perspective from Chinese philosophical wisdom.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper revisited the challenges faced by orthodox management theories, proposing management scholars should borrow Eastern philosophical intelligence for problem solving when considering the tradition of Chinese culture on human orientation and its intelligence on tolerating and coping with ambiguity, uncertainty, and complexity. By tracing back the core concept of harmony in Confucianism, the paper identified the mechanisms for achieving harmony by differentiating further the general understanding of harmony and its original meaning in Chinese characters. The theoretical framework of HXMT was introduced then by integrating both evolutionism and constructivism perspectives.
Findings
The theoretical explaining power of HXMT is rooted in the time‐honored philosophies of Asia. HXMT got its gene from traditional thinking by applying dialectic and holistic perspectives. Within complex and unpredictable contexts, the existence of He‐Xie theme can replace the searching and planning to strategy. Guided by He‐Xie theme, the He principle and the Xie principle, as well as the coupling between them, compose the fundamental mechanisms for effective management and better performance in organizations.
Originality/value
The paper opens an avenue for indigenous HXMT. As a methodology for guiding management research and practice in coping with complexity and uncertainty, HXMT is expected to attract more attention from scholars to contribute to knowledge creation in Chinese management studies.
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Youmin Xi, Xiaojun Zhang and Jing Ge
The purpose of this paper is to address several challenges faced by organizational management in the contemporary context, and how managers can better reply to management…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to address several challenges faced by organizational management in the contemporary context, and how managers can better reply to management challenges by integrating oriental and occidental philosophy and wisdom.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper first describes the characteristics of the contemporary management context and identifies challenges that managers are likely to encounter. The paper then investigates how oriental and occidental philosophy and wisdom reply to these management challenges, whilst also considering the relative advantages and disadvantages of both traditions. Based on the complementarity of these two traditions, the paper finally proposes a framework that integrates both oriental and occidental wisdom by HeXie Management Theory to better respond to management challenges.
Findings
The contemporary organizational environment is characterized by four key salient components: complexity, change, ambiguity, and uncertainty (CCAU). Managers are challenged by problems of determining causality, managing holistically, and adaptation to rapid change. Western philosophical approaches to confronting management challenges arising from CCAU, inherent in the wider economic environment, emphasize standardization and rational design on the basis of science, law, and religion. Conversely, Oriental philosophical approaches to management challenges oppose such rigid systems in favour of flexibility and adaptability which emphasize harmony and morality. Essentially, whereas western thought intends to limit the occurrence of unpredicted events through the development of scientific systems, oriental thinking aims to provide a flexible and fluid system which absorbs the effects of CCAU, thus limiting and using its impact. These two perspectives both have their own advantages and disadvantages when facing management challenges in the context of CCAU. By integrating these two complementary approaches, the authors propose HeXie Management Theory (HXMT). HXMT establishes a clear vision and mission to direct the development of organizations; to organize an integrated management system through the HeXie Theme and HeXie Coupling, and to apply the component “He Principle” and “Xie Principle” as basic mechanisms to cope with management challenges.
Originality/value
This study contributes to research on relationships between organizations and environment by providing a holistic analysis, and adds knowledge about how to reply to management challenges by constructing ambidextrous organizations based on HeXie Management Theory.
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Qin-Ying Wang, Wen-Qi Ma, Hui Chai, Xing-Shou Zhang, Yu-Chen Xi and Shu-Lin Bai
This study aims to investigate the effect of powder recycling on the microstructure of plasma-sprayed Ni625-WC composite coating and to verify the feasibility of Ni625-WC powder…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the effect of powder recycling on the microstructure of plasma-sprayed Ni625-WC composite coating and to verify the feasibility of Ni625-WC powder recycling by comparing the corrosion resistance of the coatings in high-temperature and pressure CO2 environment.
Design/methodology/approach
Recycling powder is an efficient way to improve the utilization rate of metal powder during plasma spraying. The plasma-sprayed Ni625-WC composite coatings with original powder (OC) and recovered powder (RC) were analytically compared by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometer, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The corrosion resistance of the Ni625-WC composite coatings was characterized in a self-designed high-temperature and pressure autoclave by an electrochemical workstation.
Findings
The results showed that there is massive M23C6 in OC and acicular M23C6 in RC. The WC particles in RC are more uniformly distributed, and the area ratios of WC particles to Inconel 625 matrix are 2.37% higher than OC. RC showed high corrosion resistance, and the recycling of Ni625-WC powder is feasible.
Originality/value
The feasibility of Ni625-WC powder recycling was verified from the microstructure evolution and electrochemical behavior of the coatings.
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Mia Raynard, Michael Lounsbury and Royston Greenwood
This paper explores how legacies of past logics spawn variation in the institutional landscapes of different geographic regions in China. Of particular interest is how this…
Abstract
This paper explores how legacies of past logics spawn variation in the institutional landscapes of different geographic regions in China. Of particular interest is how this variation influences the ways that actors interpret and respond to broader societal and world society pressures. Employing a cross-level comparative research design, we examine the enduring legacies of previous state logics, which have given rise to distinctive material and symbolic resource environments in different regional communities across China. To the extent that institutional contexts direct the attention of actors toward particular environmental stimuli and provide the symbolic and material resources to respond, a better understanding of how contexts differ provides more accurate causal explanations of the variability of organizational behavior. We explore this phenomenon in the context of recent government-mandated corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in China. Our examination of public and private CSR initiatives, along with the CSR activities of a sample of 714 listed Chinese companies, suggests that legacies from past state logics become embedded in local institutional infrastructures and shape how abstract, multifaceted CSR initiatives are interpreted and implemented.
Priyanka Chawla, Rutuja Hasurkar, Chaithanya Reddy Bogadi, Naga Sindhu Korlapati, Rajasree Rajendran, Sindu Ravichandran, Sai Chaitanya Tolem and Jerry Zeyu Gao
The study aims to propose an intelligent real-time traffic model to address the traffic congestion problem. The proposed model assists the urban population in their everyday lives…
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to propose an intelligent real-time traffic model to address the traffic congestion problem. The proposed model assists the urban population in their everyday lives by assessing the probability of road accidents and accurate traffic information prediction. It also helps in reducing overall carbon dioxide emissions in the environment and assists the urban population in their everyday lives by increasing overall transportation quality.
Design/methodology/approach
This study offered a real-time traffic model based on the analysis of numerous sensor data. Real-time traffic prediction systems can identify and visualize current traffic conditions on a particular lane. The proposed model incorporated data from road sensors as well as a variety of other sources. It is difficult to capture and process large amounts of sensor data in real time. Sensor data is consumed by streaming analytics platforms that use big data technologies, which is then processed using a range of deep learning and machine learning techniques.
Findings
The study provided in this paper would fill a gap in the data analytics sector by delivering a more accurate and trustworthy model that uses internet of things sensor data and other data sources. This method can also assist organizations such as transit agencies and public safety departments in making strategic decisions by incorporating it into their platforms.
Research limitations/implications
The model has a big flaw in that it makes predictions for the period following January 2020 that are not particularly accurate. This, however, is not a flaw in the model; rather, it is a flaw in Covid-19, the global epidemic. The global pandemic has impacted the traffic scenario, resulting in erratic data for the period after February 2020. However, once the circumstance returns to normal, the authors are confident in their model’s ability to produce accurate forecasts.
Practical implications
To help users choose when to go, this study intended to pinpoint the causes of traffic congestion on the highways in the Bay Area as well as forecast real-time traffic speeds. To determine the best attributes that influence traffic speed in this study, the authors obtained data from the Caltrans performance measurement system (PeMS), reviewed it and used multiple models. The authors developed a model that can forecast traffic speed while accounting for outside variables like weather and incident data, with decent accuracy and generalizability. To assist users in determining traffic congestion at a certain location on a specific day, the forecast method uses a graphical user interface. This user interface has been designed to be readily expanded in the future as the project’s scope and usefulness increase. The authors’ Web-based traffic speed prediction platform is useful for both municipal planners and individual travellers. The authors were able to get excellent results by using five years of data (2015–2019) to train the models and forecast outcomes for 2020 data. The authors’ algorithm produced highly accurate predictions when tested using data from January 2020. The benefits of this model include accurate traffic speed forecasts for California’s four main freeways (Freeway 101, I-680, 880 and 280) for a specific place on a certain date. The scalable model performs better than the vast majority of earlier models created by other scholars in the field. The government would benefit from better planning and execution of new transportation projects if this programme were to be extended across the entire state of California. This initiative could be expanded to include the full state of California, assisting the government in better planning and implementing new transportation projects.
Social implications
To estimate traffic congestion, the proposed model takes into account a variety of data sources, including weather and incident data. According to traffic congestion statistics, “bottlenecks” account for 40% of traffic congestion, “traffic incidents” account for 25% and “work zones” account for 10% (Traffic Congestion Statistics). As a result, incident data must be considered for analysis. The study uses traffic, weather and event data from the previous five years to estimate traffic congestion in any given area. As a result, the results predicted by the proposed model would be more accurate, and commuters who need to schedule ahead of time for work would benefit greatly.
Originality/value
The proposed work allows the user to choose the optimum time and mode of transportation for them. The underlying idea behind this model is that if a car spends more time on the road, it will cause traffic congestion. The proposed system encourages users to arrive at their location in a short period of time. Congestion is an indicator that public transportation needs to be expanded. The optimum route is compared to other kinds of public transit using this methodology (Greenfield, 2014). If the commute time is comparable to that of private car transportation during peak hours, consumers should take public transportation.
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The paper aims to explore the impact of personal cultural orientation (individualism and collectivism) on knowledge sharing intention (KSI), and to test the moderating effect of…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to explore the impact of personal cultural orientation (individualism and collectivism) on knowledge sharing intention (KSI), and to test the moderating effect of tacit knowledge (AK) on the main causal relationships. It proposes modeling the knowledge-sharing process and outlining why and how AK is important throughout the process.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper opted for an empirical study using the approach of survey, by sending 400 questionnaires to the employees selected under the branches of the First Automobile Workshop (FAW) in Changchun, who are the major force in direct contact with dissemination of knowledge in the enterprises. A regression analysis was used.
Findings
Individualism and collectivism orientations both have significantly positive impacts on KSI; the employees who are more collectivism-orientated are more willing to share knowledge than those who are more individualism-orientated; the higher degree is the AK, the weaker is the relationship between individualism and KSI and the stronger is the relationship between collectivism and KSI.
Practical implications
The practical implication of our findings is that when designing human resource development (HRD) strategies to enhance employees’ KSI, the factors of cultural values and the knowledge attribute need to be taken into consideration.
Originality/value
The paper shows that the personal cultural orientations of individualism and collectivism have positive impacts on the KSI. AK makes different effects on the two relationships by weakening the relationship between individualism and KSI and by strengthening the relationship between collectivism and KSI.
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Elite politics in China.
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB208050
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
Feng Wang, Huadan Han and Lei Zeng
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance has received significant attention around the world. Could robust ESG performance become a new advantage for supporting…
Abstract
Purpose
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance has received significant attention around the world. Could robust ESG performance become a new advantage for supporting companies’ outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) in emerging markets? Prior studies have not articulated the nexus between ESG performance and OFDI. This paper aims to conduct both theoretical and empirical work to clarify the effect, especially the mechanisms of ESG performance on companies’ OFDI.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the data of A-share listed companies in China from 2010 to 2020, this paper empirically tests the effect and the mechanisms of ESG performance on companies’ OFDI.
Findings
Firstly, robust ESG performance increases the likelihood of companies engaging in OFDI and also augments the scale of such investments. Within the realm of ESG, environmental performance, social performance and governance performance all play important roles in fostering OFDI. Secondly, strong ESG performance promotes OFDI by enhancing the competitive edge and alleviating financial constraints. Also, environmental performance, social performance and governance performance individually contribute to supporting competitiveness and mitigating financial constraints. Thirdly, the effect of ESG performance on OFDI is particularly pronounced for companies targeting developed countries, those operating in heavily polluting sectors and those with significant institutional investor presence.
Originality/value
This study advances the applicability of the stakeholder theory in the realm of firm internationalization. Moreover, the findings of this paper provide new strategies for promoting the OFDI of companies in emerging market economies.
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Cuijuan Liu, Zhenxin Xiao, Yu Gao, Maggie Chuoyan Dong and Shanxing Gao
Although manufacturer-initiated rewards are widely used to secure distributors’ compliance, the spillover effect on unrewarded distributors (i.e. observers) in the same…
Abstract
Purpose
Although manufacturer-initiated rewards are widely used to secure distributors’ compliance, the spillover effect on unrewarded distributors (i.e. observers) in the same distribution channel is under-researched. Using insights from social learning theory, this paper aims to investigate how manufacturer-initiated rewards affect observers’ expectation of reward and shape observers’ compliance toward the manufacturer. Furthermore, this paper explores how such effects are contingent upon distributor relationship features.
Design/methodology/approach
To test the hypotheses, hierarchical multiple regression and bootstrapping analyses were performed using survey data from 280 Chinese distributors.
Findings
The magnitude of a manufacturer-initiated reward to a distributor stimulates expectation of reward among observers, which enhances compliance; observers’ expectation of reward mediates the impact of reward magnitude on compliance. Moreover, network centrality (of the rewarded peer) negatively moderates the positive impact of reward magnitude on observers’ expectation of reward, whereas observers’ dependence (on the manufacturer) positively moderates this dynamic.
Practical implications
Manufacturers should pay attention to the spillover effects of rewards. Overall, they should use rewards of appropriate magnitude to show willingness to recognize outstanding distributors. This will inspire unrewarded distributors, which will then be more compliant. Furthermore, manufacturers should know that specific types of distributor relationship features may significantly vary the spillover effects.
Originality/value
This study illuminates the spillover effects of manufacturer-initiated reward by opening the “black box” of the link between reward magnitude and observers’ compliance and by specifying the effects’ boundary conditions.